Kenny Podmore has married famous people, neighbours, family, friends and strangers B次元官网网址� some who became friends B次元官网网址� over the last 10 years.
And boy does he have some stories.
Hot mic hilarity and a runaway puppy are among the memories he can share after a decade as a marriage commissioner.
It was such a good time, the Sidney man practically begged his employers, BC Vital Statistics, to allow a couple more years B次元官网网址� to make up for the time lost during the pandemic.
He was immediately drawn to the idea of bringing two people together in marriage the minute he saw the ad for a Sidney/North Saanich position. After applying, he and nine others were summoned for an in-person interview.
B次元官网网址淎nd they video you,B次元官网网址� he recalled. B次元官网网址淚 think the video is the final thing, to see how you would fare doing an actual ceremony.B次元官网网址�
Podmore must have fared well, earning the first five-year appointment. They liked his work enough to reinstate a second five years B次元官网网址� adding up to the longest a commissioner can serve.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had a wonderful 10 years and IB次元官网网址檒l always say that but I lost two. The other eight made up for it.B次元官网网址�
RELATED:
ItB次元官网网址檚 just one of many jobs Podmore has held since he came to Canada from the UK more than two decades ago as a retired transportation department head for a social services agency who also spent time as a military police officer. He and his wife Anita B次元官网网址� married 24 years B次元官网网址� moved to Sidney and fell in love with the community.
There are only two legal requirements to the marriage ceremonies. HeB次元官网网址檚 required to ask if there are lawful impediments to the marriage and pose the question to each partner if they take the other.
After that, PodmoreB次元官网网址檚 all mush.
B次元官网网址淚 do talk about love a lot. I donB次元官网网址檛 make it too lovey, but I do say to the couple and guests IB次元官网网址檇 like to reflect on one moment B次元官网网址� two people met, fell in love, and here we are today,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 how I used to start all my ceremonies.B次元官网网址�
RELATED:
Humour is the second-most exposed emotion during the ceremonies.
He recalls a beautiful New YearB次元官网网址檚 Eve wedding at a mansion in Highlands, one the bride still teases him about. See Podmore meets with his couples as many times as theyB次元官网网址檇 like until theyB次元官网网址檙e comfortable with him so she got to know them quite well and still sees them around.
During this ceremony, as the exchange of rings approached, he dropped them.
B次元官网网址淚 forgot we were micB次元官网网址檇 up,B次元官网网址� Podmore said. B次元官网网址淚 said to the groom, B次元官网网址業 think itB次元官网网址檚 under your footB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� from there on we all had the giggles.B次元官网网址�
Dropping rings happened rarely on his watch. He learned quickly to get a rubber pad and keep a firm grip on the key pieces of jewelry.
B次元官网网址淵ou learn from your mistakes.B次元官网网址�
But everyone knows heB次元官网网址檚 not the first responsible for those tokens of love and commitment.
Right or wrong, thatB次元官网网址檚 often left to children or furry family members.
Once a dog was responsible for getting the rings down the aisle during a ceremony at the Conservatory of Music in downtown Victoria.
B次元官网网址淭hey said, B次元官网网址楬eB次元官网网址檒l be at the door with a friend and once weB次元官网网址檙e ready for the rings weB次元官网网址檒l call him and heB次元官网网址檒l come,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Podmore said.
When they called, he ran.
B次元官网网址淲e finally got him and the rings had gone, theyB次元官网网址檇 come off in the Conservatory of Music somewhere,B次元官网网址� Podmore said with a chuckle.
They decided to just skip the ring part.
Another couple had a purpose-made collar for their cat that came down the aisle in a stroller. Once it arrived at the front however, they all searched and searched in vain. Eventually, the photographer and Podmore offered up their rings for the moment.
The following day he asked if they ever found the rings.
B次元官网网址�(The couple) said (the rings) were at home. B次元官网网址榃e forgot to put them on the catB次元官网网址檚 collar.B次元官网网址� It turned out fun. Their guests were with it,B次元官网网址� he said.
Sometimes itB次元官网网址檚 as much about getting there as the venue. When he was invited to do a wedding on Sidney Island, he said heB次元官网网址檇 meet them at the marina B次元官网网址� the more common way to make the quick trip across.
B次元官网网址淥h no, weB次元官网网址檒l fly you over,B次元官网网址� he recalled them saying. B次元官网网址淚 think we were taxiing longer than we were in the air.B次元官网网址�
Once the two-seater stopped on Sidney Island, Podmore heard a thumping and bumping, then noticed trucks and cars barrelling out of the woods as the locals descended on the venue.
B次元官网网址淭hat was a highlight.B次元官网网址�
HeB次元官网网址檚 married famous couples whose names he cannot and will not disclose and holds all his couples in high regard B次元官网网址� much like the many venues.
One couple that stands out is a couple in their 80s tying the knot on a beach in Sidney.
B次元官网网址淭he venues IB次元官网网址檝e been to, I wonB次元官网网址檛 say which is my favourite because theyB次元官网网址檙e all lovely. There really are so many beautiful venues.B次元官网网址�
HeB次元官网网址檚 made marriages at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Starling Lane Winery, Craigdarroch Castle, VanDusen Botanical Gardens, Horticulture Centre of the Pacific and his final ceremony Sept. 9 at Langtry Walk in Central Saanich.
In the decade between PodmoreB次元官网网址檚 first wedding and his last, it rarely rained during the ceremony, he got to wear his official town crier regalia at least once and many, many times heB次元官网网址檚 been emotional.
HeB次元官网网址檚 married friends and made friends.
Marriage commissioner is a calling he recommends, should anyone get the chance.
